China Is Sending Plants and Insects to the Moon in 2018

In Brief

In June, China will launch a mission that will bring insects and plants to the surface of the Moon. The goal is to help us understand how terrestrial organisms fare in the lower gravity.

Going to the Moon

For many, humanity’s first steps on the Moon are a triumphant relic of modern history, the unparalleled glory of which will be replaced once we reach our next destination: Mars. However, in recent years, other have expressed an interest in returning to scene of humankind’s giant leap for further exploration.

This year, the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP), otherwise known as the Chang’e Program, plans to launch the Chang’e 4 Mission. The program has previously sent two orbiters and one lander to the Moon, and now, they plan to study its geology while exploring the effects of lunar gravity on both insects and plants from Earth.

Plants and insects will be on the Moon fairly soon. Image Credit: Phtorxp / Pixabay

The Chang’e 4 Mission will start in June with the launch of a Long March 5 rocket with a relay orbiter aboard. Six months after reaching orbit at the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange Point, the lander and rover will launch. The lander will carry an aluminum alloy container filled with seeds and live insects to facilitate their study under these unique conditions.

As Zhang Yuanxun, the chief designer of the container, told the Chongqing Morning Post (according to China Daily), the Chang’e 4 Mission’s container will house potatoes, arabidopsis seeds, and silkworm eggs. After the eggs hatch into silkworms, the worms will produce carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, the potatoes and arabidopsis seeds will emit oxygen through photosynthesis.

“Together, they can establish a simple ecosystem on the Moon,” said Yuanxum.

Bugs in Space

So, why bring seeds and insects to the Moon? Mainly because it will help us determine the potential for humans to live and work there.

We don’t yet know if terrestrial organisms can grow and thrive in lunar gravity, which is roughly 16 percent of Earth’s (or 0.1654 g). The destination for the mission is the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which many have suggested could be an ideal location for a lunar base. By improving our understanding of how seeds might sprout and grow or how insects might survive and potentially thrive under such difficult and abnormal conditions, we might better prepare for life on the Moon.

Additionally, microgravity has been shown to have serious negative effects on human health. Any human lunar explorers would be outfitted with protective gear to prevent the negative effects caused by the Moon’s lower gravity, but still, those stationed at a lunar base for an extended period of time could face unforeseen problems. The more we know about how organisms react to these conditions, the better we can prepare.

While some have their sights firmly set on Mars, the Moon remains a viable destination for future space research. Its unique conditions and relatively close proximity make the Moon an ideal testing ground for exploring the natural, physical world beyond Earth’s atmosphere, and eventually, we could use what we learn from it to expand our reach in the cosmos.